Many an individual has stood before a freak mirror and beheld the grotesque image reflected therein. If he knew nothing about mirrors, he might be frightened by what he saw, for he might believe that the misshapen creature was a true picture of himself. But if education has taught him that such a mirror does not give a true reflection, he would not be disturbed by what he saw, nor would he believe that he himself was deformed. He would know that what appeared to be his reflection was nothing but a distortion of the person he knew himself to be.

One dictionary definition of "mirror" is, "That which gives a true likeness or image; hence, a pattern." Consequently, if a person wanted to see a true likeness of himself, he would not choose a medium which could give only a false concept or image. The individual yearning to know himself as the real man, created in the image and likeness of God, as man is referred to in the first chapter of Genesis, should not look into the mirror of the carnal, or mortal mind, and base his conclusions on the distorted image which he beholds.

Mortal mind can never show the real man, patterned after the infinite Mind, God. To see himself as the true reflection, one should turn away from the distorted picture to the perfect, uncontorted reflection revealed through the mirror of Christian Science.

On page 515 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy writes, "Your mirrored reflection is your own image or likeness." She states further (pp. 515, 516): "Now compare man before the mirror to his divine Principle, God. Call the mirror divine Science, and call man the reflection. Then note how true, according to Christian Science, is the reflection to its original. As the reflection of yourself appears in the mirror, so you, being spiritual, are the reflection of God."

To know oneself as this spiritual man, the reflection of God, one must know something about God, whom man reflects. The Bible states (John 4:24), "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth"; and also (I John 4:8), "God is love." Thus one learns from the Bible that God is Spirit and Love.

Mrs. Eddy amplifies this definition of God on page 465 of Science and Health, where she writes, "God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love." Therefore man, as the true reflection of God, must be incorporeal. He does not exist in a mortal body but in God. Any suggestion that would try to make us believe otherwise is a distortion of mortal mind.

Man, reflecting Love, reflects all the qualities of God, Love, in whom there is no room for hatred, jealousy, or resentment. In Life, there is no consciousness of death. In Mind, there is no ignorance, no lack of understanding, no forgetfulness.

Man knows all he needs to know at all times, for he reflects infinite, inexhaustible intelligence. We do not have to be afraid that if we reflect that intelligence today, we may use up our quota and so will not be intelligent tomorrow. Ideas are ever unfolding, because they come from an inexhaustible source, infinite Mind, and they are ours by reflection.

So it is with all the other qualities of God which man reflects. Goodness, love, truthfulness, spirituality, and substance are our Godgiven talents and must be utilized. In order to utilize them, to see ourselves as we really are, the reflections of our Father-Mother God, we must keep our gaze constantly focused on the mirror of Science.

What at times appears to be a sick or sinful individual may seem very real, just as the distorted image in the freak mirror would seem real to the one who believes that such a mirror can give a true image. But we do not have to accept the picture. We can turn from it to the reflection of man as revealed through Christian Science, and this simple turning away often brings healing.

A recent experience brought this clearly to the realization of one student of Science. During the first winter which she and her husband spent in a new home, the concrete approach to the garage heaved and became badly cracked. Since they considered this the result of an error in construction which had been noted when the approach was first put in, they felt that the contractor, who had been upright in all their dealings with him, would recognize this fact and willingly make the correction. But the contractor disclaimed responsibility. However, he offered to replace the concrete at cost if the owners would assume the expense.

To the student, this solution seemed unfair. While the discussion was continuing, she had no opportunity for prayerful meditation but only a brief moment in which to turn from the suggestion of injustice and to replace it with the true concept of man, the idea of God, who reflects only spiritual qualities, such as justice and integrity. In turning to seek the true concept of man, she was including herself and her husband as well as all mankind. With a desire and a willingness to do what was right, she again focused her attention on the conversation taking place.

Her husband had been unaware of her rejection of the false concept of man and was astonished when the contractor suddenly reversed his original proposal and said he would replace the approach at his own expense. This experience proved to the student that when one is alert and turns away from the false picture to the true, the true is expressed.

Christ Jesus said (John 7:24), "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." On pages 476 and 477 of the textbook, Mrs. Eddy explains how our Master did this. She writes: "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick."

Jesus turned away from the counterfeit image, seen through the mirror of mortal mind, to the true reflection of man, God's image and likeness. It is this true reflection that is revealed to us through Christian Science.